Lottery winner's cyanide death being investigated

CHICAGO (AP) -- A Chicago man who died of cyanide poisoning just before he was to collect $425,000 in lottery winnings had been inspired by a pilgrimage to lead a better life and stop gambling.

7-Eleven store clerk Ashur Oshana said Urooj (oo-ROOJ') Khan had told him he was going to stop playing the lottery after being on the hajj in Saudi Arabia. But Khan bought his winning scratch-off ticket anyway and gave Oshana a $100 tip.

Khan's lump-sum check was cut by the state Comptroller's Office on July 19. Khan died July 20, and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said he died of natural causes.

But a relative asked for a deeper examination, and the results showed Khan was killed by cyanide poisoning.